The ARCHÉ Building forms part of the comprehensive urban revitalization of the Rohanský Island area in the Karlín district of Prague.

The core idea was to create an attractive working environment within a park, while retaining the benefits of an urban setting and adhering to environmentally responsible standards. The urban design respects the established grid of residential blocks in the surrounding development.

The building’s massing was determined by the need for optimal natural lighting, energy efficiency, and by the effort to maximize scenic views of the Vltava River and Prague Castle.

ARCHÉ is an eight-story office building with a highly flexible interior layout, enabling each floor to be divided into independent rentable units, allowing tenants to configure spaces according to their specific needs.

Designed as a compact and functional glass-clad structure, the building ensures high-quality daylight conditions even within the deeper parts of the floor plan.

The southern façade, facing a main street, features extensive glazing complemented by external shading: an organically shaped linear element made of perforated metal, suspended in front of the glass façade to filter excess sunlight in the summer months. The flowing design of this shading element was inspired by the lightness of clouds and the movement of water, a motif also reflected in the decorative sculpture in the entrance lobby.

On the northern side, the terrain rises up to the level of the second floor, concealing the entrance to the underground garages and creating several covered parking spaces at ground level.

The building’s base—including the first and second floors—recedes 2.8 meters from the typical floor line along Rohanské nábřeží, forming a colonnade and a spacious entrance zone.

The main entrance is emphasized by a distinctive portal bearing the building’s name – ARCHÉ. The revolving door is complemented by a sculptural element in the form of a tilted polished steel cylinder, reflecting its surroundings. The grand glass lobby, visible from the adjacent street, features the bespoke sculpture BIONICWALL made of HIMACS solid surface material.

The organic form of this sculpture is based on a Voronoi cell structure. The shapes were further refined using artificial intelligence, but the final design was adjusted by hand to achieve a natural and tangible result. The installation transforms under changing light – dramatic and shadow-filled at one moment, luminous and delicate the next, like a drifting cloud.

The lobby space is complemented by a bespoke light installation by Lasvit, designed in harmony with the organic concept. The fixture combines slumped glass elements and LED lines, enhancing the sculptural atmosphere.

On the roof, a shared terrace offers outdoor seating for building users. Designed as a continuous space with organically shaped green planters, it creates varied zones for relaxation. The terrace includes a bar and shading sail, allowing visitors to enjoy panoramic views of Prague Castle at any time of day.

Studio: AI DESIGN
Author: Eva Jiřičná, Petr Vágner, Jura Bečička, Filip Gottschalk, Hana Vočková

Website: www.aidesign.cz
Social media: www.instagram.com/ai.design
www.facebook.com/aidesign.cz
www.linkedin.com/company/ai-design

Client: Sekyra Group, www.sekyragroup.cz

Photographer: Jiří Šebek, www.jirisebek.cz

Project engineer: AED Project, www.aedproject.cz
Design and consultancy for façade systems: MFS Digital CZ, ww.mfsgroup.com
Construction management: RUBY Project Management, www.ruby-pm.com
Main interior contractor: Allegro, www.allegro-praha.cz
Bespoke sculpture and lobby reception desk: A.M.O.S. Design, www.amosdesign.cz
Façade and shading system: OKM Group, www.okmgroup.cz
Reinforced concrete structural frame: Winning Group, www.winninggroup.cz